8PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES OF THE LEAVES OF Ficus nervosa Heyne ex Roth (Moraceae)The present report is an investigation of anti-seizure activity of Dendrocnide harveyi (Family - Urticaceae)
which is common in wet primary and secondary forests, edge of forests,and along streams from sea -level to midmontane. The methanolic (90%) extract of Dendrocnide harveyi (MEDH) was subjected to acute toxicity and then
screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures
models in albino wistar rats. Acute toxicity of extract was non toxic up to the recommended dose 2000mg/kg body
weight orally as per OECD guidelines No.423. Animals were pretreated with MEDH at the doses of 200 and
400mg/kg body weight. The study reported the significant delay in clonic seizure induced by PTZ and dose
dependent decrease in duration of hindleg extensor phase in MES model. In MES model, MEDH showed
significant reduction in duration of hindleg extension with 200 mg/kg dose and effect was dramatically reduced
with 400mg/kg. Similar dose dependent results were obtained in PTZ model by delayed the onset of clonic
convulsions. The complete protective effect against mortality was reported in both the tests. This study predicted
possible mechanism of the formulation mediated through chloride channel of the GABA or benzodiazepine receptor
complex .However, the exact mechanism of action is not clear, but attributed to its antiepileptic effect. The
methanolic extract of Dendrocnide harveyi deserves further investigation for detailed elucidation of active
constituents and the mechanisms of action.bhagyadeepthik@gmail.comResearch212012Anti seizureactivity,Traditional Medicine,Dendrocnide harveyi Maximal Electroshock,PentylenetetrazoleM. Himaja Trivedi,S. Mohana Lakshmi,Jyothi M. JoyDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh-517102, India.,Department of Pharmacognosy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh-517102, India.,Department of Pharmacognosy, Sree Vidyanikethan College of Pharmacy, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh-517102, India.